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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Laurel" data-source="post: 2022244" data-attributes="member: 17067">Chapter Five: “A Hidden Kingdom”Day Nineteen- Hywrl Xath it seems is late today. With the help of my growling stomach, I wake an hour before dawnI almost over sleep the next morning. An easy ritual I told myself I would start today. I quickly rise and dress plainly. On my way out I grab a small piece of bread from the dusty kitchens and one of the scarce fruit from the vine for breakfast, jogging quickly down the now worn road between Hywrl and Link’s tree. It has become the beginning of a main road in the city we seem to be amassing. There are the still hot burning embers of fires, and pieces of hastily collapsed tents, but it was the beginnings of buildings set up all along the way that caught my eye the most. Only the steady pounding of the early forge work and chipping of the wall workers, sound in the pre-dawn air. I go straight to the steps of Link’s tree, and nodding to the guards walk past as they watch me pass. Not exactly the best of greetings, but then to some I am nothing more then a joke and a poser, but none seem to question it openly. They know I have full rights here and by the Duke’s own words. He was the one to proclaim me Countess of Hywrl and its surrounding area, so I know I will not be bothered. As I enter, I see that the Duke has taken up the upper right rooms for his domain. The first main room has been altered into a mini-throne room. Everything else on this level though seems to have been left as it was. I was told his personal guards that made it out of Oceanus reside in the room next to his not trusting anything or anyone these days.I walk the empty rooms, touch the walls, furniture, and long forgotten items. These are his things, Link’s things, but they are just things. Why can I not just say good-bye and turn my back? Why do I feel a pull to this supposed blood relative I had meet but three times? His daughter, it is her I can not and will not forget. She was filled with such beauty, but not compassion. How could she have killed Link, her own father? Could anyone have moved me to kill my father, Michael? Even if he is not my true father he raised me, cared for me… no, there is nothing. Perhaps that is why I keep coming back to see if there is anything I can use against her. If Link has any knowledge to pass on, any knowledge to grant me the revenge promised.Pulling aside the dusty curtains, I  see a great golden beast at the base of the tree. It great wings dance the light across the hundreds of feathers, while the fur on it’s body seems to capture and hold the light inside itself.   Justice own golden hues seem to meld with the beast as she stands at it’s head, readying  him for the days flight.  Thane she calls the beast.  From what we have seen since leaving Oceanus, he is a creature she can call at any time to any place, but only for a time.  Her magic is what holds him here to do her bidding.  Archonus had mentioned that she planned to scout Oceanus from a high distance.  He must have seen the fear on my face for he I heard the heavy rhythmic footfalls of guards, and eventually the disjointed footfalls of the duke. With a curt greeting, he motions to me to lead him back to Hwyrl where once again he will play the role of teacher. Later that day Justice and Xath would help to school me in some of the ways of the court. I have been trying my best, but I am still falling short of their expectations I know. Luckily Justice and Xath take it all with side humor. The Duke, however, seems delighted with being able to teach me, though from the sense of something to do or something more devious I do not know.The day passed quickly, and I only had a brief moment to watch from the sidelines as the dwarf and half-orc taught hand to hand combat to the trainees. Archonus had agreed to show them all the basics of archery, and for those adept enough I would continue their training in a more focused manner.That night I again walk the woods with Archonus and Greylocke. I was happy to hear through Xath that though he may not stay long he does use the room set aside for him in Hywrl occasionally. Arfin, Xath and Farathier seem to be enjoying their rooms in Hywrl much better. I can only guess at Justice and Kareth in Link’s tree. Xath made sure two rooms were kept by her and the others just in case either wanted to stay there instead. Each night, however, Kareth and Justice would make their way back to the tree’s left side rooms. I sometimes see them in my early morning visits. Kareth on a tree limb or in a quiet patch of light meditating. Justice I hear normally in the practice room on the lower level, or repeating her creed as the light burns away the last of the nights darkness.</blockquote>

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